CEO UPDATE 31 May 2021 | 31 Haratua 2021
What a weekend – thanks to everyone involved in keeping Cantabrians safe over the past 48 hours during the ‘one in 100 year’ floods throughout our region Our system has been incredibly busy of late with large numbers of acute patients, and now with added flooding, evacuations, roads closed limiting some staff’s ability to get to and from work, things just got a little more complicated. Despite the challenges, once again, good people have been doing great work, going above and beyond over the weekend and again today, to ensure our staff, patients and rest home residents are all safe, warm and dry. The latest forecast shows rain should ease this evening, so we hope the situation will improve over the next 24 hours and the clean-up can begin. Our thoughts are with those worst-affected. Teams have done so well to ensure the health system was wellprepared and our staff and communities have been supported. While there has been disruption to services, including having to postpone Outpatient appointments at Ashburton today, most health services throughout Canterbury are continuing to operate, some with fewer or different staff who are covering for colleagues impacted by the floods, and some General Practices have switched to phone consults for the day These types of events are always a reminder to ensure you are ready for whatever crops up to disrupt business as usual, including bad weather. I know many of you have Grab Bags at the ready, so you can leave home quickly. These floods have caused massive disruption for hundreds of Canterbury families. To ensure you’re ready for whatever comes next, check the Get Ready, Get Through website.
For the latest reports on which roads are open or closed, check NZTA’s website. Last week I saw a very different looking Ashburton where I had the opportunity to meet and chat with a large number of staff. A highlight was learning more about the Rural Health Academic Centre based in Ashburton. It’s a collaboration with the University of Otago School of Medicine. If you’re not sure what happens in a Rural Health Academic Centre, there’s some good information here. I was encouraged by the sense of energy and innovation amongst the team in Ashburton and the way they're trying to deliver the very best care for their community. The rural model of healthcare delivery, the commitment to Rural Generalism, and getting everyone working together at the top of their scope, utilising all of our talented, skilled workforce was just fabulous.
Click on the image above to watch the video
In this issue › Regulars – Kōrero ai... pg 4-5 › A Tribute to Shane McKerrow – Flight Liaison Officer Canterbury Air Retrieval... pg 6 › Te Papa Hauora Future Leaders Programme 2021... pg 7
› World Smokefree Day, 31 May 2021: Celebrating the ‘champions’... pg 9-10 › Tackling Climate Change... pg 11 › Canterbury Health System Research making strong progress with support improvements... pg 12
› Laying the foundations for success... pg 13 › Seconds Save lives – clean your hands... pg 14 › One minute with... ... pg 15 › Notices – Pānui... pg 16-17
› Hearing the voice of Pacific Peoples... pg 8
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